Why did no-till not take off in the 1980s?

[SilliamWhale]

Pretty sure I know who you mean, good friend who farms about 12 to 15 hundred acres, three miles from here. Doesn't own a computer although he does have a mobile, but no-one except his tractor drivers have ever been given the number! His father started DD in the early seventies and he still has the original two 3 metre Bettinsons and two 3 metre Moore Uni-drills. When everyone else gave up round here because the surface started to get firm and compacted, with more and more water standing about, he had a contractor in with a para-plough, doing a bit every year. That went on for about ten years, but he then gave it up and hasn't done any deep work ever since.

His system now is to do very shallow scratching with an old vibroflex type spring tyne, but really, all he is after is creating a bit of loose soil for slot covering. Because he now has a bit of tilth, he uses a 6 metre wide Bettinson box drill with end tow for transport, I think it has disc coulters on the end of trailing arms.

He still drills direct into linseed and lucerne stubbles with the 3 metre Bettinsons and drills linseed with a Moore.

Lots of the locals laugh at him and think he is mad, but he couldn't care less and keeps himself to himself. He has a system that does what he wants to do and doesn't have any big tractors or expensive depreciating machinery.

Thats him yes! I knew he wasn't far away from you but I couldn't place his name or much more about him. Think I was having a chat to him at the end. Must be great living without a computer sometimes - don't feel the need to constantly connected but then pros and cons...

 

[Rainmaker]

I think its because people werent bothered enough to make it work long term. Seriously diesel was cheap, glyphosate was dearer, labour probably not a problem, plenty of culticavators about, no internet to share the odd problem and it all adds up to "may as well cultivate" whereas now the challenge is "how can i not cultivate and keep productivity high"

The evidence in harry allens book also shows that it did work very well from time to time too

His book is a good read and there are a few lessons we can learn from the ol boys.

 

[britt]

imho I agree with previous comment that burning straw/stubble reduced worms which are needed for long term notill was the fundamental reason for dd in the 80s to decline
ploughing was seen as the answer to the burning ban

in the trials second wheats have been shown to be the weakness of notill simple enough solution not to plant second wheats
not growing second wheat helps with bg reduction in any rotation

I came to the conclusion that second wheats are just doing yourself out of a first wheat the next year.